Fire at S.F. Zoo destroys old bathhouse

SAN FRANCISCO

Updated 10:48 pm, Saturday, December 1, 2012

A firefighter collects gear outside the historic bathhouse for the Fleishhacker Pool, which closed in 1971. The unused bathhouse had fallen into disrepair.

A firefighter collects gear outside the historic bathhouse for the Fleishhacker Pool, which closed in 1971. The unused bathhouse had fallen into disrepair.

Photo: Rashad Sisemore, The Chronicle

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A firefighter collects hoses used to put out a fire at the historic Fleishhacker Pool in the San Francisco Zoo on December 1, 2012.

A firefighter collects hoses used to put out a fire at the historic Fleishhacker Pool in the San Francisco Zoo on December 1, 2012.

Photo: Rashad Sisemore, The Chronicle

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Firefighters begin collecting their gear and hoses after containing the fire inside the historic Fleishhacker Pool at the San Francisco Zoo on December 1, 2012.

Firefighters begin collecting their gear and hoses after containing the fire inside the historic Fleishhacker Pool at the San Francisco Zoo on December 1, 2012.

Photo: Rashad Sisemore, The Chronicle

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Firefighters carry a ladder to the historic Fleishhacker Pool at the San Francisco Zoo after flames inside the building began flaring up again on December 1, 2012.

Firefighters carry a ladder to the historic Fleishhacker Pool at the San Francisco Zoo after flames inside the building began flaring up again on December 1, 2012.

Photo: Rashad Sisemore, The Chronicle

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Firefighters collect their gear outside of the historic Fleishhacker Pool at the San Francisco Zoo after containing the fire which caused significant damage to the building's interior and roof on December 1, 2012. less

Firefighters collect their gear outside of the historic Fleishhacker Pool at the San Francisco Zoo after containing the fire which caused significant damage to the building's interior and roof on December 1, ... more

Photo: Rashad Sisemore, The Chronicle

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Firefighters inspect damage done by the fire to the historic Fleishhacker Pool at the San Francisco Zoo, while colleagues collect gear used to put out the flames on December 1, 2012.

Firefighters inspect damage done by the fire to the historic Fleishhacker Pool at the San Francisco Zoo, while colleagues collect gear used to put out the flames on December 1, 2012.

Photo: Rashad Sisemore, The Chronicle

Fire at S.F. Zoo destroys old bathhouse

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A fire on Saturday ravaged the former bathhouse at the long-paved-over Fleishhacker Pool, the last remnant of an Ocean Beach icon that was once the nation's largest swimming pool.

The building sat on the Great Highway and inside the boundaries of the San Francisco Zoo. It also served as the pump house, which, until 1971, filled the pool with millions of gallons of salt water from the adjacent Pacific Ocean.

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When firefighters arrived on scene, they found "a large volume of fire and smoke," Siragusa said. It prompted him to order firefighters back, particularly because no people were at risk. The fire was put out from a distance.

"The building is a total loss," said Siragusa. "It's a historic building. It's a shame that it has to end this way."

One firefighter received minor injuries fighting the blaze and was taken to UCSF for treatment, Siragusa said. As many as 83 firefighters and 23 different companies fought the fire.

The zoo was closed about 2 p.m. because of the crush of fire engines and other equipment, city officials said. There was no damage to the zoo itself, and it is scheduled to reopen Sunday on its normal schedule.

The pool, which opened in 1925, was built by Herbert Fleishhacker, who also donated the adjacent zoo and its animals. At 1,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, the pool required over 6 million gallons of water, which were pumped in and out at high and low tide, respectively.

The pool was large enough to have 10,000 swimmers - and lifeguards who patrolled it in rowboats.

Among other things, the pool featured hulking diving platforms and swings. But after shutting down in 1971, the pool and the bathhouse were left to decay. The zoo finally filled in the pool, and in 2002 paved it over for a parking lot.

At the time of the fire, the building had no utilities, Siragusa said, adding that the cause was "under investigation."

But the extensive graffiti left little doubt that many transients have spent time amid its ruins in recent years. Siragusa feared that the intensifying storm would lure others to the building, regardless of the now caved-in roof.

"People are seeking refuge in this weather, and we have to figure out a way to keep them out of this structure," he said.

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